Tongs



Dec. 22, 1931. B. w. suNDE TONGS 'Filed Feb. 17, 195o vlower sides ofthe body sectiony Yor'converge inwardly from the side parts -18 A vbe in the form of a mechanism 14, and the means 15.y The body 1() may be a simple unitary part having substantially parallel sides 16. The inner 01 active end of the body 10 is provided with an opening or recess 17 to slidably carry the jaw 12. 'Ihe opening17 extends horizontally or transversely between the sides 16 of the body and provides two spaced projecting side parts. `18 and 19 on the body section. The opening 17 is formed to carryorguide thejaw y12 andi in the preferred lforin of the invention is provided with two opposite parallel side walls 20' tovslidably receive the jawl 12.`

, body from the inner endofthev opening 17.

illustrated they walls- In thel particular case' of the opening 17 converge inwardly from thev opposite parallel lparts 20 to the cylinder opening 21.` l/Vhat I will term the upper and may taper ofthe sectionlO. The member 22 may be em. ployed to hold the device against rotation or may be employed to rotate or operate the device asy desired.V Means is yprovided for carrying' or suspending theV tongs. 'Inthe v case illustrated an geye. bolt 24 Yprojects Vupwardlv from what I have termed the upper y; :side ofthe body sect-ion'lOf The Vgate section 11 of the tongs is pivotally connected adapted to'closetheopen side of the opening `rlfliefgate section 11 may torni, 'for example,l 1t may 20 toextend around a part such as the pipe P. be of any suitable linked orcliain sections, or it may be a single rigi fl-part or of any other construction found in tongs for handling pipe. In the particullar form ofthe invention shown in the drawings the section 1-1is a single rigid member 'and isfpivotally connected with the side part s v19A ofthebody section 10. 11 maybe pivotally connected with vthe body `section l() in any suitable manner. embodiment ,offthe invention illustrated a` The gate section In the j tongu'e25`is provided on the gate section'l'l 1 opening Vof the" tongue 25 and and extends between spaced yoke parts 26 oaths' body .Sectioniw- A pimpin 012b01t 27 extends through transverse openings in' the yoke parts26 to pvn otally connect the sections'10' and 11.v A

The inner side 28,0'the gate section 11V iscurved to receive or conform to the configuration of the exterior ofthe pipe Pl.. `The' face of the jaw 12 andtheinner outer side or side' 28l of the gate section 11' Aprovide an tional'conliguration' when the section 11is 1.operative position.. ,(Srrippingjpartsr orA A? cylinder opening 21 extends inwardly in the` .tainedvin positiontocooperate to the section 10 and is be constructed of substantially round cross secdies 29 may be provided on the inner side 28 ot the gate section. lVhen the tongs' are to be employed to handle pipe of relatively` small diameter inserts or dies 8O are mounted on the inner side 28 of the gate section. 11 and in the jaw'. rPhe dies 29 may be seated in notches or recesses 30 lin the side 28 and may be removably securedv to the gate section 11 by suitable screws 31. The dies 29 maybe kprovided. with gripping parts in the .form of teeth to effectively engage the l exterior of the pipe P. y, f I `In accordance with the invention rmeans .is

provided tor releasably setting or locking thek gate section' 11* inthe closed position around the pipe P. Any suitable torni of latch or vreleasable connection may beprovided to, latch the gate section 11 in its oper-V ative position. In the-preferred `form of, the invention 'a latch 32` is pivotally "mount ed on the side part 18 oiithebody section and is adapted to cooperate 33 vonthe gate section 11. rPhe latch 32 may have a tongue 34 arranged `between yoke parts 3501i the sidepart18. A suitable pivot pin Y and the tongue 34 to pivotally mountthe latch on tlie body section 10.V The latch 4is Vnormally rewithrthe catch 33 of the gate sectionfll by gravity`and the latch andthe projection'SS are'formed and'related so that'when the section 11 is l y section 11 in its closed position. Avlaters ally projecting stop"37'may beprovided on the latch '32 to engagea `lug 38 yon the side part 18 to limit the downward `movement oi the latch 32and retain the latch in the proper' position to be engaged by the catcV 33.A A suitable handle 391nay Vbe.provided-onthe latch 32, "Reintorcing or strengthening ribs4() may be providedon the gate "section 11""andV lugs 41'having openings maybe pro# for operating the gate. section 11. s

.The jaw 12 is slidably mounted opening 20 and is' operableby the means the pipe-` P.- The rjaw 12 having latparallel-l sides .42't'o slit; ably' opcrate on the side walls`20fofA the opening.

VThe outer or act-ive Side'o'the jawr12v isv curved toeiectively receive the exterior-of with a v-nose or catch s ce l 3G mayre'xtend through transverse f openings in the parts 35 the piperP,l and dies 4.3 similartofthe dies Y piston 44 maybe `formed integral Wi.:llftlieflVY I jaw 12 projecting from theinner side of the jaw in'tofthe cylinder opening 217;' A Sility f vided on the ribs 40 to receive suitable means f f means 15.

able'c'up leather 45 may be provided on the inner end of the piston 44 to seal with the walls ofthe cylinder 21. AF luid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 21 to operate the Vjaw 12 and is exhausted from the cylinh der after operation of the jaw 12through a port 46 communicating with the inner V end of the cylinder 21. Suitable fluid, say,

hoil, is supplied to the port 46 under control 'of the valve mechanism14 to operate the ably mounted in a valve Chest or housing 52 and operable by a single operating member 53 to control the passage or' fluid through an'inlet port 54 and an outlet port 55, respectively. The valve housing 52 may be mounted on the exterior of the body at the j outer end of the port` 46. In the case illustrated the housing 52 is mounted on whatrI have termed the upper side of the body section 10 over the end of the port 46. The

housing' 52 may be in the form of an elongated tubular part closed at its opposite ends by plugs 56.. A transverse opening 57 is provided through the wall of the housing 52 to communicate with the port 46. The inlet port 54 is provided in one of the plugs 56 and is supplied by a conduit 58. The outlet port 55 is provided in the other plug 56 and communicates with an exhaust conduit 59. The valves 50'and 51 are slidable longitudinally in the housing 52 to cooperate with seats .formed on the plugs 56 around the ports 54 and 55. The valves 50 and 51 may be alike in construction and are oppositely arranged in the housing 52.

The valve members .50 and 51 may be in the form of needle valves having taperedor beveled faces at their outer ends to cooperate with the seats 60. The body or'main portions of the valves 50 and 51 are of considerably less diameter than the housing `52. A flange 61 is provided on the inner end of each of the-valves 50 and 51 to slidably engage the inner walls of the housing 52. The flanges 61 act to guide the valves within the housing. VThe valves are formed and positioned so that when they are both in the closed position the flanges 61 are spaced apart and are adjacent the opposite sides of the port or opening 57.Y A compression spring 62 is Yarranged between the valves 50 and 51 to normally retain them in `sealing engagement With the seats 60. The spring 62 may seat in sockets 63 in the inner ends of the valves 50 and 51. The operating member 53 is .mounted in ayhollow enlargement onY the housing 52 and is inthe form of a rotatable segment. The member 53 is rotatable about an axis transverse of the valves 50'and`51." A segmental notchy 64 is provided on vthe lower and inner side of the operating member 53 torece'ive or engage the flanges 60. vThe notch 64 is positioned and formed Aso that it receives both of theiianges 6.1. "A shaft or stud 65 projects outwardly froniopposite ends `of the member 53 and is vrotatable in openings Vin the enlargement to notatably mount the member 53. i A suitable operating handle 66 may beprovided on one'endr of.

the stud 65 atthe exterior of the housing' 52 for operating the member. It will 'be seen that partial rotation of the member 53 in*l one direction will unseat the valve 50 without aecting or shifting the valve 51 and that-` partial rotation of the member 53 inthe opposite direction Vwill unseat the valve 51with-vf out affecting the position-ofthe valve 50. l

The means 15 for automatically returningl the jaw 12 toits normal unactuated position uponV the pressurebeing released from the cylinder 21 may be 1n the form of .spring means. The means 15. may include tensionY arranged 1n longitudinal openings springs 70 71 in the body section 10'. The outer ends Y of the springs 70 are connected 'with the inner side of the jaw 12 by means of eye bolts'72.v The opposite ends of the springs "T0 are attached to bolts or `rods 73 slidable in re- 'l duced openings `74`in the body sectionlO. Adjusting nuts 7 5 are screw'threaded on `the outer ends-of the rods 73 to engage the ex-V` teriorof the'body section 10; vThenuts 75' may be employed to adjust or vary the tension or action of the sprlngs 70.

In Fig. 5offthe drawings I havejshown inserts 8O arranged on the inner :side'of the gate section- 11 of the jaw 12.

curedtothe jaw and the gatev section by means of screws extending through the lugs 81and screw threaded into'the jaw 12 andl l gate section. The outer or active sides of the insertsSO may be providedfw'ith gripping dies 82. Thedies 82 lmaybe set Ain notches in the .inserts and may be secured to the inserts by screws 83. It will beobvious that inserts 80 of various sizes Itis believed that the operation of the tong provided'by this invention will be apparent from' the foregoing The invention "provides'a compact constructionv including the fluid pressure means fol. ,v Opel'ftngfhe iev and thermes 15 for ref and the outerV oractiverside The inserts 80. may be em- 4 -ployed to adapt the device to handle pipe in the jaw 12 and the gate section: 8O Vmay be removably lsemay be .mounted Von thegate section 11 and the jaw 12 to adapt the device forgripping pipe' or like parts Vof various diameters.

A' detailed description.

ma e

rit

' when thegate is in the closed position, ajaW slidable radially in' the bodyrelative tothe' said opening, and `iluid pressure means for j turning the jaw in the single unitary bodyF section 10. The valve mechanism A14k is simpleV and easily operated so that 1t 1s particularly suited forusein connection With a device of this character. The valves 50 and 5ly arevcontrolled-by the operation of the member 53 so thatwhenthe member 53 is'partially rotated to'unseat the valve 50 the yspring 62 n is compressed to cause the valve member 5l 1f);v to be more .tightly seated on the seat 60 of the outlet port 55. 1' Theaction of the spring 62 is reversed when the valve 5l is unseated by Athe member 53 so that. it acts to securely or l positively .seat the valve on the valve seat 1,53; 60 of the port ,54. The springs 70 of the f means v act toY return-the jaw l2 to its nort drawings is to be employed in the horizontal position that the/latch is always in position to be engaged by the catch to retainV the gate section l1 in closed position. VHaving described only a typical preferred form of my invention, l do not Wish to limit myself tothe specific 'details set forth but Wish to reserve'to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled lowing claims.

- l. Tongs including a body adapted to receive an object, a gate pivotally connected Withtlie body', a handle V'projecting from the jbody, a gripping jaw slidable in the body,

and {luid pressure means jaw including a piston on the jaw operable in a cylinder 1n the body, the cylinder having a central longitudinal Vaxis coincident With the longitudinal axis of movement of the aw and of the guiding means for the jaw. Y

Y 2; Tongs including a body adapted to receive an object, a gate pivotally connected with the body, a handle projecting from the body, a gripping jaw slidable in the body, and'fluid pressure means `for operatingthe jaw including an'integral piston onthe jaw slidable in a cylinder in the body, the cylinder having a cent-ral longitudinal aXis of movement of the jaw and of the guiding means 'for the jaw.

V2. Tongsincluding a-body, a gatepivoted to the'body, there being recesses in the body and gate forming Work receivingiopening operating the jaw including a piston on the .65 jaw slidable inra cylinder' opening in the body,

` in the art or fall Within Vthe scope of the fol-` Having described my invention, I' claim:

centrallongitudinal aXis coincident with the Leaf/,689i

the cylinder' opening being radial relative to the'said opening. Y

4. Tongs includinga body, a gate pivotally connected to the body there being recesses in the body and gate forming a Work receiving opening, latch means for the gate, a gripping javv slidable in an opening in thebodyfor movement radial relative to the Work opening,.luid pressure means for operating the jaw including a piston on the jaw slidable in a cylinder in the body the cylinder having a longitudinal aXis radial relative to the Work opening, a handle on the body, and spring means in the body for automatically returning the j aw after actuation.

Tongs including a body adapted to receive an object, a gate pivotal'ly connected With the body, a handle projecting from the body, a' gripping jaw slidablenin the body, means guiding the aw for radial movement relativ-e -to the object, and fluid pressure means for operating the jaw including a piston on the jaw operable in a cylinder in the body, the cylinder having a central longitudinal axis coincident With thelongitudinal axis of the guiding means for the jaw, and valve means for controlling the admission and discharge of fluid from the cylinder.

Tn Witness that I cl aim the foregoing I have hereunto lsubscribed my name this V17th day of January, 1930.. Y BENJAMIN W. SUNDE.`

for operating the 

